Key result
A six-week combined exercise and recreation therapy intervention did not significantly change the cortisol:DHEA ratio (p=0.747) or heart rate coherence levels (p=0.172) in breast cancer survivors.
Why the study?
Breast cancer patients face deleterious physiological and psychological side effects even after completing treatment, prompting evaluation of a combined exercise and recreation therapy intervention.
Does a six-week combined exercise and recreation therapy intervention improve the cortisol:DHEA ratio and heart rate coherence in breast cancer survivors?
Does a six-week combined exercise and recreation therapy intervention improve the cortisol:DHEA ratio and heart rate coherence in breast cancer survivors?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
A six-week combined exercise and biofeedback intervention did not significantly alter stress hormones or heart rate coherence in breast cancer survivors, though findings were heavily limited by a small sample size and concurrent hormone-suppressing medications.
Even upon successful completion of treatment, breast cancer patients face a number of deleterious physiological and psychological side-effects. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of a six-week combined exercise and recreation therapy intervention on the cortisol:DHEA ratio and heart rate coherence levels. Nine women who had recently completed breast cancer treatment received exercise, recreation therapy or a combination of both three times per week for six weeks. No change was found in the cortisol:DHEA ratio (p=0.747) or in heart rate coherence levels in response to the intervention (p=0.172). Eight of the nine subjects were receiving adjunct therapy involving the use of selective estrogen receptor modulator drugs which suppress cortisol and DHEA levels. This fact combined with the small sample size likely prevented significant findings. However, trends towards decreased cortisol:DHEA and heart rate coherence improvements were observed warranting further study.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Michael R. Anderson (2019) studied Breast cancer (n=9). Exercise, recreation therapy, or a combination was evaluated on Cortisol:DHEA ratio and heart rate coherence levels (p=0.747). A six-week combined exercise and recreation therapy intervention did not significantly change the cortisol:DHEA ratio (p=0.747) or heart rate coherence levels (p=0.172) in breast cancer survivors.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: